We asked our community, “How can the church better serve you and your family?”  The overwhelming response was, “Help our kids.”  This led us to pray and research the needs of our unique rural area.  Helping community children meant transporting them to church since many of their families didn’t attend church anywhere.  A bus ministry team visited and invited lots of children.  At first, we attempted to pick up every child and meet every need.  Eventually the opportunities became overwhelming.  It was obvious we needed to simplify and focus.

We chose to work simply from the command of the Great Commission, preach the gospel and make disciples.  Systematic bus routes, visiting door to door, and tracking contacts helped increase ministry efficiency.  As new children arrived, teachers taught on salvation and presented each child with the opportunity to respond.  Children received an invitation to participate in a discipleship growth track.

A sense of fellowship and belonging soon followed.  Children began participating in the corporate worship and serving in roles alongside adults.  Child leaders began to emerge.  Active student-led ministries developed.  The results were miraculous.  To God be All the Glory for helping us to keep it simple.

Strategies

• Develop Bus Routes –
  • Tip: Focus on children/families near the church first, then branch out.  If you don’t have a bus, recruit families willing to bring a child to church. The volunteer family becomes responsible for mentoring the child.
• Home Visits –
  • Tip: Smiles and cookies can open a lot of doors and hearts.
• Family Supper –
  • Tip: Create a time to share a meal with students and invite families.
• Celebrate Milestones –
  • Tip: Births, Baby Dedications, First Day of School, Salvations, Baptisms, First Bibles, Graduations, etc.  Always invite the family.
• Develop A Social Media Plan –
  • Tip: Create a private/secret group for your children’s ministry and a parent’s only group.
• Create a simple Growth Track –
  • Tip: Base it on the Know, Grow & Go model.

Our continued vision is to provide simple opportunities for children to encounter God’s love in new and exciting ways and be forever changed by the power of the Gospel.  In summary…

1. We focused on prayer.
2. Our pastor committed to revival.
3. Staff saw and understood the divine purpose of reaching the unchurched.
4. We returned to the basics.
5. We committed to equip and release children into ministry.

Contributing Author:

Karen V. Coley
Pre-Teen Coordinator
RT:Kids
Roberts Tabernacle
Westmoreland, Tennessee

In June, I had an experience that filled me with joy and thanksgiving. I was serving as the evangelist at a summer camp in Tennessee. The first night of camp, I walked into the chapel where 109 eight-, nine- and ten-year-old kids were worshiping. They weren’t just singing songs and moving to the rhythm; they were worshiping with hands raised high and voices emphatically strong. And that was just the first night. Each night these campers worshiped vibrantly; they actively listened to God’s Word; they humbly received prayer ministry; and they passionately prayed for others. God honored their worship.

During these times of worship children came to the altar with tears of conviction streaming down their face; they believed and were saved. They raised their hands and in faith received Holy Spirit baptism. They boldly prayed for others around them until they too were laughing with Holy Spirit joy and speaking in heavenly languages. They reverently took communion. Filled with agape love, they moved through the chapel experiencing true Christian fellowship with one another. And again, as they worshiped God and loved one another, God’s presence filled the chapel.

Worship is a must for kids. Through worship children’s minds focus on God, their emotions sense His presence, and their wills yield to His. Through worship children experience the reality of God—His nearness, His love, His comfort, His guidance and more. They realize that God is not just someone you read about in the Bible.  He is real.  He is near.  He responds to their prayers and their praises.

Through worship children “rise up” to do the good works of ministry—acts of compassion, intercession, testimony, and sacrificial giving.  During ministry time one evening as the presence of God became real to each child, a young girl was baptized in the Holy Spirit. In continued worship, she moved to her friend who was handicapped. She hugged her friend and prayed for healing. Her worship had inspired faith-filled ministry.

Through worship children say “yes” to God for a lifetime. During this kids’ camp one of the senior staff members reminded me of a children’s revival that he participated in when he was only twelve years old. During worship at that children’s revival, the lights went out. The minister reminded the children that the early Christians often worshiped in the darkness of the caves. This reminder inspired the children to continue worshiping. Soon every child responded in praise to God and was baptized in the Holy Spirit. This staff member not only received Holy Spirit baptism but was also called into ministry. He accepted that call and has served as a pastor throughout his adult life.

During Jesus’ last week here on earth he was in the Temple doing miraculous things. The children saw the wonderful things he was doing—healing and forgiving—and they began to shout praises. The wicked religious leaders questioned Jesus, “Do you hear what these children are saying?” “Yes,” replied Jesus, “have you never read, “‘From the lips of children and infants you, Lord, have called forth your praise’?”  Matthew 21:16

Do you hear what the children are saying? Yes. Even today God continues to order His praise from the lips and hearts of our children so that His kingdom can be established in their lives and in their world.

Contributing Author: Kathy Creasy

Kathy is the International Children’s Ministry Director for the Church of God of Prophecy.  It is through her leadership that this Developing Leaders, Impacting Kids website operates.  She has a  Masters of Science degree in Early Childhood Education from Peabody College of Vanderbilt University and a certificate in Children’s Ministry from Lancaster Bible University. Kathy is committed to providing encouragement and training to those who serve children. Kathy is married to Rick Creasy.  They have two sons and three wonderful grandchildren.